One thing was made clear by the Eagles when the cut wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday: They no longer could allow the wide receiver's talent to blind them to his faults.

Eagles sources cited missed meetings, a poor work ethic and the company he kept -- all of which they feared would infect the younger players, and an NJ.com report revealed ties to reputed gang members who were involved in two Los Angeles homicides.

But while head coach Chip Kelly and many of his players might feel better about the atmosphere in their locker room with Jackson gone, the team on the field won't be as good without the three-time Pro Bowl receiver.

Last season, the Eagles used 127 lineup combinations and ran 1,128 plays. Jackson, their top wideout, was used in 84 of those lineup combinations and 1,010 of those plays.

Of the 2,525 receiving yards compiled by Eagles receivers last season, Jackson accounted for 1,332 of them. Of the 20 receiving touchdowns last season by Eagles wideouts, Jackson had nine of them.

So, the Eagles are now without a player who was on the field for 90% of the snaps, was used in 65% of formations, and was responsible for more than half of the team's receiving yards. That production will be difficult for one player to replace.

The return of Jeremy Maclin from injury will help, but to expect Maclin to do what Jackson did -- in his first season back from a torn ACL -- is unrealistic.

The loss of Jackson will also have an impact on Riley Cooper, who was re-signed by the team this offseason. Last season, when training camp started, Cooper's spot on the roster was not guaranteed. But he weathered a racial controversy to become one of the team's most produtive players.

And now, entering training camp, he is perhaps the No. 1 receiver on the team, given the talent current on the roster -- although he is not seen as an upper-echelon receiver.

The idea of a rookie replacing Jackson, no matter how high in the draft he is taken, also is unrealistic. And there aren't many quality receivers left on the free-agent market.

Two players who will likely be counted on more in passing game will be tight end Zach Ertz and running back Darren Sproles. Ertz already has started building chemistry with quarterback Nick Foles -- the two warm up together before each game -- and that relationship should only grow stronger.

Kelly said that the decision to trade for Sproles had nothing to do with the Eagles -- at that time -- mulling Jackson's release. Still, expect Sproles to take over some of the bubble-screens Jackson ran last season.

But counting on a running back or tight end to make up for Jackson's production is a risky plan.

Last season, they won with a strong running game, a healthy offensive line, and a quarterback that was nearly perfect. With or without Jackson, that was going to be hard to repeat. Losing Jackson certainly makes that even more difficult.